₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Army has issued a statement on alleged role of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai in the $2.1billion arms deal fraud.


PRESS RELEASE:SAVE THE NATION MOVEMENT A GROUP OF BLACKMAILERS AND MISCHIEF MAKERS

The Nigerian Army has noted with dismay the attempt to rubbish the hard earned name and reputation of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai and the Nigerian Army by a faceless group that called itself Save the Nation Movement (STNM) through orchestrated campaign of calumny in the media. In a release signed by Steven Chilaka, its National Secretary on Sunday, they wanted the Chief of Army Staff to be included among those indicted in the ongoing probe of abuse of funds meant for the procurement of arms simply because he was the Director of Procurement at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).

The public will recall our earlier warning of this type of campaign of calumny against the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff. This has reared its ugly head again. Unfortunately, the movement could not get their facts right as has always been the case with people with dubious intents.

Contrary to their mischief, it should be noted that General Buratai was Director of Procurement at Defence Headquarters from March 2014 to May 2015, not from 2012 to 2015 as they wished to mislead the public. Furthermore, there is the need to educate the ignorant group that, Defence Procurement in Nigeria is decentralised each Service is responsible for its procurement. It is advisable for the group to look elsewhere if they want to attack the Chief of Army Staff. For the avoidance of doubt, the Chief of Army Staff has never been involved in any questionable act throughout his career as military officer let alone when he was at the DHQ.

As a matter of fact, the Chief of Army Staff has always been a reference point in exemplary conduct, probity and integrity. It is on record that he voluntarily declared his assets both as Commander MNJTF and as Chief of Army Staff. In addition, he has directed all Nigerian Army officers to do so. One wonders what the faceless groups motive is and why they are in a hurry to rubbish the good name of the Chief Army Staff and the Nigerian Army, when there is a Presidential Panel already working selflessly. Why is the group trying to jump the gun. Let these mischievous elements which Steven Chilaka represents, allow the Panel to discharge its duties dispassionately as it is doing.

It is advisable also that the faceless group should get their facts right and not just merely speculate or disturb us with their wishful thinking. They should further understand that whatever mischievous intentions they have against the Chief of Army Staff and indeed, the Nigerian Army, both would not be deterred, we shall remain focused and never to be distracted. Consequently, the public is please requested to disregard the so called Movements evil machinations which would surely fall back on them.

Thank you.

Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman
Acting Director Army Public Relations

http://www.nigerianbulletin.com/threads/nigerian-army-releases-statement-on-buratais-alleged-role-in-arms-deal-scandal.169850/

Every Pastor Who Collects Tithes is a Thief – Pastor Femi Aribisala

Popular pastor and public affairs analyst, Femi Aribisala has berated the act of collecting tithes by their churches which he believes is not biblical.
As far as many pastors are concerned, the most important scripture of all is not to be found in the word of Jesus. Neither is it even in the New Testament. That scripture says: “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.’” (Malachi 3:10).
This scripture is drummed repeatedly into Christians on Sundays. However, the only time Jesus mentioned tithing in scripture, he pointed out that it was not a weighty matter of the law. (Matthew 23:23). Hebrews says people only receive tithes “according to the law.” (Hebrews 7:5). It then insists tithing (and everything else under the law) has been annulled: “The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless.” (Hebrews 7:18-19). Nevertheless, mercenary pastors continue to insist on the payment of tithes.
Latter-day Pharisees
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for keeping part instead of the whole law. (Matthew 23:23). That is what tithe-collecting pastors do today. If we insist our congregants must pay tithes, we must also insist that they keep the rest of the law. James says: “Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10). Therefore, if we insist on tithing, we should also refrain from eating pork. We should stone adulterers, execute homosexuals, kill Sabbath violators and restore blood-sacrifices.
Tithe-collecting pastors counter this by maintaining the payment of tithes pre-dated the law. Here Abraham is cited as the cardinal example of someone who paid tithes before the promulgation of the Law of Moses, as did Jacob, his grandson. However, such arguments are disingenuous.
Before the law, tithing was at best an example but not a commandment. Moreover, pastors fail to mention that Abraham only tithed once in his lifetime. When he did, he did not even tithe his own money: he tithed the spoils of war. He gave ten percent of the plunder he took when he rescued Lot to Melchisedec, king of Salem. But then he did not even keep the rest but returned it (all ninety percent) to the king of Sodom.
For his part, Jacob also tithed only once. He did this in a “let’s make a deal” arrangement he offered to God: “Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you.’” (Genesis 28:20-22). This kind of deal about accepting God only under certain self-serving conditions should certainly not be a term of reference for any serious believer.
Lies upon lies
The first lie pastors tell Christians is what some have referred to as “the eleventh commandment:” “Thou shalt pay thy tithes to thy local church.” But the bible says no such thing. The storehouse of Malachi was not a church. It was a place where food was kept.
Pastors hide from church-members the fact that money was not acceptable as tithe. The tithe was a tenth of the seed and fruit of the land and of the animals which ate of the land. (Leviticus 27:30-32). That is why God says: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be FOOD in my house.” (Malachi 3:10). He does not say “that there may be MONEY in my house.” The food was used to feed the Levites, the poor, widows, orphans and strangers.
Pastors also conveniently fail to teach the biblical tithe. The principles of tithing were not laid down by Malachi. They were laid down by Moses. The study of Moses’ guidelines quickly reveals that the biblical tithe has no application whatsoever to Christians and is mischievously violated by tithe-collecting pastors today.
According to the Law of Moses, the tithe was divided into three allocations. The first year, it was given to the Levite. The second year, it was given to widows, orphans and the poor. The third year, it was eaten in the company of the faithful before the Lord as thanksgiving for his faithfulness. (Deuteronomy 14:22-28). In the seventh year, there was no planting and no reaping and therefore no tithing.
So the next time your pastor asks you to pay tithe, ask him about the seventh-year reprieve. Also ask him if you can give your tithe to the orphanage, or bring it as food items to be eaten in church. Believe me; he will not agree with you because it is your money he is after.
Inapplicability of Tithes
Tithing was only applicable to Jews and to the land of Israel. When large populations of Jews lived in Babylon, Ammon, Moab, Egypt, and Syria, these lands became tithe-able lands. However, tithes were not acceptable from strictly Gentile lands. So you need to ask your pastor how come he is collecting tithes in Nigeria.
Servants or slaves who worked on the land did not tithe because the land did not belong to them. Since only agricultural and animal resources were included, a fisherman gave no tithe of his fisheries. Neither did a miner or a carpenter pay tithes, nor anyone from the various professional occupations. So if you are not a farmer or a keeper of livestock, tell your 419 pastor tithing is biblically inapplicable to you.
Moreover, the only people authorised to receive tithes were the Levites. (Hebrews 7:5). So if your Pastor is a “tithe-collector,” ask him if he happens to be a Jew. Remind him that, even though a Jew, Jesus could not receive the tithe because he was not from the tribe of Levi but from that of Judah.
The trick, of course, is for pastors today to claim we are “Levites.” If your pastor is one such dissembler, ask him if he lives as a Levite. Remind him that Levites had no land and did not have private property. Ask him also how he knows he is from the tribe of Levi, which happens to be one of the lost tribes of Israel. Point out to him that even Jewish rabbis don’t claim to be Levites today because all Jewish genealogical records were lost with the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, ensuring that it is no longer possible to ascertain the true identity of Levites.
Therefore, if Jews no longer tithe because the Levites are a lost tribe, how can Christian pastors collect tithes when we are not even Jewish, how much more Levites? If Jewish rabbis, whose terms of reference remain the Old Testament no longer collect tithes, then pastors who insist Christians are under a New Testament have no business doing so.
The conclusion then is inescapable. Every pastor who collects tithes is nothing but “a thief and a robber.” (John 10:1).

http://www.247nigerianewsupdate.co/2016/01/every-pastor-who-collects-tithes-is.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has informed the National Assembly that there are no two versions of the 2016 Budget, and that the version he presented to its joint sitting on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, remains the authentic document.

He also affirmed that there is no plan to withdraw or substitute the Money Bill as being insinuated.

The president made these declarations in separate letters he wrote to the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly, copies of which were sighted by LEADERSHIP yesterday.

In the letter dated Friday, January 15, 2016, Buhari also explained that at the time he summited the draft Bill, accompanied by a schedule of details, the National Assembly was duly informed that the budget details had just been produced then and that the Executive would have to cross-check it to ensure that there are no errors in the detailed breakdown contained in the schedule.

According to him, the verification had been completed and the corrections had been subsequently submitted to the National Assembly, a development, he said, gave rise to the suspicion of the existence of different versions of the budget and the attendant confusion.

The president’s four-paragraph letter, whose content is to be revealed to lawmakers today at both the Senate and House of Representatives’ plenaries, is attached with the corrected version of the budget details, hence the National Assembly is expected to immediately begin work on the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

The presidential communication reads in part: “The National Assembly would therefore have the details as submitted on the 22nd and a copy containing the corrections submitted last week. It appears that this has led to some confusion.

“In this regard, please find attached the corrected version. This is the version the National Assembly should work with as my 2016 budget estimates. The draft Bill remains the same and there are no changes in any of the figures.”

This latest revelation by the president may have helped to dispel claims by the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, that the senior special assistant to the president on NASS Matters (Senate), Senator Its Enang, had attempted to smuggle a different version of the budget into the National Assembly other than the one presented by the president.



Senate to conclude, pass 2016 budget by February

The Senate said yesterday that it would ensure that consideration of the 2016 budget presented to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on December last year would be concluded and passed before the end of next month.

Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume, who made the position known, said senators had planned to pass the budget on record time, but blamed the delay on recent misgivings about the alleged missing budget, even as he described the budget as failing integrity test.

“We are targeting end of February to round off everything about the 2016 national budget. If not for the talk about the missing budget, we would have gone far. But we are still determined to pass the budget on time and that will be before the end of February,” he said.

Briefing Senate correspondents at the National Assembly Complex, Ndume also hinted that the Senate will today quiz the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, over the persistent free fall of naira against major international currencies.

He also dismissed the call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Senate as a big joke.

On the CBN governor, Ndume explained that the Senate’s decision to invite Emefiele for questioning became necessary because the lawmakers needed to be properly briefed on the next line of action.

He said, “The CBN governor is coming tomorrow (today). I raised a point of order because there is the need for the National Assembly to ask questions about the skyrocketing price of dollar in the black market. The difference between the official exchange rate and that of the black market is too high. We need to ask questions so that we can report back to the common man. It has never been this bad.

“This is my personal opinion. The Bureau De Change (BDC) is now a big employment avenue. If you shut it down, there will be a problem. At the same time, you should not open the windows for people to abuse the process,” he said.

The Senate leader, who also maintained his earlier stance that the 2016 budget was not missing, said the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions was only mandated to carry out an integrity test on the two copies of the budget before the Red Chamber.

He said: “Not only that the budget was not missing; the budget cannot be missing. The budget comes in copies. The copy submitted by Mr. President cannot be missing. There are some issues that came later surrounding the budget.

“We told the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to find out what happened and they discovered that there were two versions. What the president submitted as a bill is still there. Nothing has changed.”

On the call by the PDP for the National Assembly to commence an impeachment process against President Buhari following his alleged involvement in the budget crisis, Ndume described it as a huge joke and insisted that Buhari remained the kind of president the country needed at the moment.

He said, “The PDP calling for the impeachment of Buhari is a big joke. Did we kill the PDP for what they did to us in the last 16 years? The call for the impeachment of the president by the PDP is what they are supposed to do. They are in the opposition.

“Buhari is the kind of leader the country wants. His emergence is a divine intervention. We were in the opposition and I understand. The game the PDP is playing is understandable. The budget is not missing.”



We’ve Made Significant Progress In Ending Boko Haram Insurgency — PMB

President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday in Abu Dhabi that Nigeria has made very significant progress towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency since his assumption of office on May 29 last year.

This is contained in a statement issued by his special adviser on media, Femi Adesina.

Speaking at a meeting with the secretary-general of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, on the side lines of the World Future Energy Summit, President Buhari said that the Nigerian Armed Forces, in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task Force, had driven the terrorist group from Nigerian territory into “fall-back positions.”

“They are currently not holding any territory today as we speak,” the president told Mr Ban Ki Moon.

President Buhari also told the United Nations scribe that Nigeria would persistently pursue global actions to reverse the drying up of Lake Chad and save the lives of those who depend on it for survival.

“With all due respect to our neighbours, Nigeria has been the worst hit by the drying up of the Lake Chad and we are hoping that the global community will support the process of halting the drying up of the lake,” President Buhari said.



Ban Ki Moon Commends PMB On Anti-Corruption war

Meanwhile, Mr Ban Ki Moon has commended the president for his courage in fighting terrorism and corruption.

He said that Nigeria had made amazing progress against terrorism since President Buhari assumed office, while the President’s war against corruption had boosted global confidence in the Nigerian economy.

He urged President Buhari to integrate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into Nigeria’s economic and environmental vision.



Oil Price Fall: FG Must Diversify Nigeria’s Economy – Gov Dickson

As the price of oil in the international market continues to dwindle, the governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has called on the federal government to diversify the nation’s economy, stating that global oil prices are in for more tumble after Iran said it was ready to add half a million barrels a day to crude exports after international sanctions were lifted.

Speaking during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Dickson stated that with Iran producing such volume and getting more fully involved in the oil trade again, there will be more glut in the oil market with the attendant reduction in the international price of crude oil which will directly have an impact on all Nigerians.

Highlighting the implications of the global market conditions and the surplus that exists with Iran’s readiness to raise its crude oil exports by 500,000 barrels a day, he said, ‘’The federal and state government might not be able to pay salaries again, including salaries of soldiers, law enforcement agents, the judiciary and other critical workers needed in the country, and you all know and hungry man is angry man.’’

On his recent electoral victory, he described it as a triumph of peoples will over might, adding that the election showed that Nigeria’s democracy was on track.

He, however, expressed surprise that the federal government and his opponent in the last gubernatorial election, Timipre Sylva, were yet to congratulate him.

‘’I expect a congratulatory message from Sylva and the APC-led federal government. We should be forming a national consensus to move Nigeria forward. This president took over the reins of authority in this country at a time that called for all hands to be on deck.

‘’I am surprised that in spite of all these challenges, people are more interested in battles, fight, instead of making friends and building a national consensus. But my view is (that) after election, you address problems of the country and state and move forward,’’ he stressed.

The governor alleged that while he and his team were strategizing on how to win the election, his contender was preparing for war.

He maintained that the election was basically a fight for the sustainability of the nation’s democracy.

On the state of the nation’s economy and insecurity, he said, ‘’I have always maintained that after elections, especially after the last presidential election, all governors, irrespective of the way we feel about the election, should work and support the president and the federal government on critical areas which include insecurity, the repositioning the nation’s economy and maintenance of law and order.

‘’I have always known that these times will be very trying, because we have seen a steady decline of our revenue for the past one and half years. I am surprised that the APC which was an opposition then did not see that coming. So I have made this call over and over.

‘’What I have seen is an insufficient attention by the federal team, which is the team around the president: they seem to have taken their eyes off the nation’s economy and security; they seem to be focusing more on political conquest and expansion of the authority of their party instead of focusing on the nation’s economy and national security challenges,’’ he noted.

He expressed the view that the president did not have honest advisers adding that the presidential team was not expansive and broad enough.

’I see a lot of unnecessary restriction and concern about political ego,’’ he said, adding that president took over the reins of authority in this country at a time that called for national consensus.

‘’All hands must be on deck. We should be forming a national consensus; take for example, more people have died in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents between when President Muhammadu Buhari took over till date than a relative period in the last administration.’’

He stated that contrary to the government’s public proclamation, the Boko Haram threat remains a serious challenge, even as he affirmed that the country’s gallant military was doing its best and urged Nigerians to support it.

He said: ‘’The national security team need to have their eyes on the national security, and when you tie that with the possibility of the consequences of the dwindling revenue in 2016 and the years ahead, the president team should not be spending on political conquest as they are doing, deploying national asset and resources in areas that are not necessary. What is necessary is that consensus is achieved on the economy.’’

http://www.leadership.ng/news/492909/no-two-versions-2016-budget-pmb-tells-nass

Brilliant response...please "biafrans" should start packing out of Abuja, lagos, kano and all other places immediately! Abuja even needs to be de congested. They should also resign all appointments and offices they hold in the civil service, ministries and Federal government parastatals! I would also employ the government to institute a compliance force that will go from house to house making sure no biafran is left on Nigeria soil. For all those who made the mistake of marrying a biafran sorry but you shall be expelled also. Then all the markets and shops all over Nigeria should have compliance enforcement unit to ensure all biafrans occupying shops are evicted and sent back to biafra after which an electrified fence should be built to separate Nigeria from them because before you know it they will start filtering back into Nigeria.

Federica Mogherini, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security has replied Biafra agitators and the Organization of Emerging African States (OEAS) over their call for a referendum.

The OEAS had earlier requested that the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security utilizes their good office to help bring about a referendum for Biafra’s independence.

The OEAS also called for release of all Biafran political prisoners, a stand down of Nigerian forces, and a snap referendum to be held within 90 days.

In response to their request, Mogherini replied Dr., Jonathan Levy, OEAS Chief Administrative Officer, stressing that, the European Union’s official position is that while it has strong diplomatic and economic ties with Nigeria, “protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms remains a priority for the EU and we encourage the authorities [Nigeria] in every occasion to respect such rights.”

The EU went on to advise the OEAS and Biafrans that self-determination and border changes must be in accordance with established international law. The OEAS has called for an internationally recognized referendum on Biafra independence or autonomy. The EU has indicated it will only recognize a Biafra born via international law and not armed secession.

To achieve a referendum, the OEAS advises all nonviolent means should be utilized including general strikes, economic boycotts, work actions, demonstrations, lawsuits, and civil disobedience. Nigeria is a member of The International Labor Organization (ILO). The ILO recognizes the right to engage in general strikes and the right to strike is also recognized in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 (Article 8(1)(d)).
http://saharareporters.com/2016/01/19/referendum-eu-high-representative-replies-biafraorganization-emerging-african-states

The 1966 Nigerian coup d’état began on January 15, 1966 when mutinous Nigerian soldiers led by Kaduna Nzeogwu assassinated 11 senior Nigerian politicians and two soldiers as well as kidnapping three others.

The coup plotters attacked the cities of Kaduna, Ibadan, and Lagos while also blockading the Niger and Benue River within a two day span of time before the coup plotters were subdued.

A senior Army officer, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi then used the coup as a pretext to annex power, ending Nigeria’s nascent democracy. It was one of the events that led to the Nigerian Civil War.

Here is the broadcast by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu – announcing Nigeria’s first military coup on Radio Nigeria, Kaduna on January 15, 1966:

In the name of the Supreme Council of the Revolution of the Nigerian Armed Forces, I declare martial law over the Northern Provinces of Nigeria. The Constitution is suspended and the regional government and elected assemblies are hereby dissolved.

All political, cultural, tribal and trade union activities, together with all demonstrations and unauthorised gatherings, excluding religious worship, are banned until further notice.

The aim of the Revolutionary Council is to establish a strong united and prosperous nation, free from corruption and internal strife. Our method of achieving this is strictly military but we have no doubt that every Nigerian will give us maximum cooperation by assisting the regime and not disturbing the peace during the slight changes that are taking place.

I am to assure all foreigners living and working in this part of Nigeria that their rights will continue to be respected. All treaty obligations previously entered into with any foreign nation will be respected and we hope that such nations will respect our country’s territorial integrity and will avoid taking sides with enemies of the revolution and enemies of the people.

My dear countrymen, you will hear, and probably see a lot being done by certain bodies charged by the Supreme Council with the duties of national integration, supreme justice, general security and property recovery.

As an interim measure all permanent secretaries, corporation chairmen and senior heads of departments are allowed to make decisions until the new organs are functioning, so long as such decisions are not contrary to the aims and wishes of the Supreme Council.

No Minister or Parliamentary Secretary possesses administrative or other forms of control over any Ministry, even if they are not considered too dangerous to be arrested.

This is not a time for long speech-making and so let me acquaint you with ten proclamations in the Extraordinary Orders of the Day which the Supreme Council has promulgated.

These will be modified as the situation improves.

You are hereby warned that looting, arson, homosexuality, rape, embezzlement, bribery or corruption, obstruction of the revolution, sabotage, subversion, false alarms and assistance to foreign invaders, are all offences punishable by death sentence.

Demonstrations and unauthorised assembly, non-cooperation with revolutionary troops are punishable in grave manner up to death. Refusal or neglect to perform normal duties or any task that may of necessity be ordered by local military commanders in support of the change will be punishable by a sentence imposed by the local military commander.

Spying, harmful or injurious publications, and broadcasts of troop movements or actions, will be punished by any suitable sentence deemed fit by the local military commander. Shouting of slogans, loitering and rowdy behaviour will be rectified by any sentence of incarceration, or any more severe punishment deemed fit by the local military commander.

Doubtful loyalty will be penalised by imprisonment or any more severe sentence. Illegal possession or carrying of firearms, smuggling or trying to escape with documents, valuables, including money or other assets vital to the running of any establishment will be punished by death sentence.

Wavering or sitting on the fence and failing to declare open loyalty with the revolution will be regarded as an act of hostility punishable by any sentence deemed suitable by the local military commander. Tearing down an order of the day or proclamation or other authorised notices will be penalised by death.

This is the end of the Extraordinary Order of the Day which you will soon begin to see displayed in public. My dear countrymen, no citizen should have anything to fear, so long as that citizen is law abiding and if that citizen has religiously obeyed the native laws of the country and those set down in every heart and conscience since 1st October, 1960.

Our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand 10 percent; those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers or VIPs at least, the tribalists, the nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international circles, those that have corrupted our society and put the Nigerian political calendar back by their words and deeds.

Like good soldiers we are not promising anything miraculous or spectacular. But what we do promise every law abiding citizen is freedom from fear and all forms of oppression, freedom from general inefficiency and freedom to live and strive in every field of human endeavour, both nationally and internationally. We promise that you will no more be ashamed to say that you are a Nigerian.

I leave you with a message of good wishes and ask for your support at all times, so that our land, watered by the Niger and Benue, between the sandy wastes and gulf of guinea, washed in salt by the mighty Atlantic, shall not detract Nigeria from gaining sway in any great aspect of international endeavour. My dear countrymen, this is the end of this speech.

I wish you all good luck and I hope you will cooperate to the fullest in this job which we have set for ourselves of establishing a prosperous nation and achieving solidarity.
http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/01/15/how-nzeogwus-1966-coup-changed-nigeria-forever/

ations will respect our country’s territorial integrity and will avoid taking sides with enemies of the revolution and enemies of the people.

My dear countrymen, you will hear, and probably see a lot being done by certain bodies charged by the Supreme Council with the duties of national integration, supreme justice, general security and property recovery.

As an interim measure all permanent secretaries, corporation chairmen and senior heads of departments are allowed to make decisions until the new organs are functioning, so long as such decisions are not contrary to the aims and wishes of the Supreme Council.

No Minister or Parliamentary Secretary possesses administrative or other forms of control over any Ministry, even if they are not considered too dangerous to be arrested.

This is not a time for long speech-making and so let me acquaint you with ten proclamations in the Extraordinary Orders of the Day which the Supreme Council has promulgated.

These will be modified as the situation improves.

You are hereby warned that looting, arson, homosexuality, rape, embezzlement, bribery or corruption, obstruction of the revolution, sabotage, subversion, false alarms and assistance to foreign invaders, are all offences punishable by death sentence.

Demonstrations and unauthorised assembly, non-cooperation with revolutionary troops are punishable in grave manner up to death. Refusal or neglect to perform normal duties or any task that may of necessity be ordered by local military commanders in support of the change will be punishable by a sentence imposed by the local military commander.

Spying, harmful or injurious publications, and broadcasts of troop movements or actions, will be punished by any suitable sentence deemed fit by the local military commander. Shouting of slogans, loitering and rowdy behaviour will be rectified by any sentence of incarceration, or any more severe punishment deemed fit by the local military commander.

Doubtful loyalty will be penalised by imprisonment or any more severe sentence. Illegal possession or carrying of firearms, smuggling or trying to escape with documents, valuables, including money or other assets vital to the running of any establishment will be punished by death sentence.

Wavering or sitting on the fence and failing to declare open loyalty with the revolution will be regarded as an act of hostility punishable by any sentence deemed suitable by the local military commander. Tearing down an order of the day or proclamation or other authorised notices will be penalised by death.

This is the end of the Extraordinary Order of the Day which you will soon begin to see displayed in public. My dear countrymen, no citizen should have anything to fear, so long as that citizen is law abiding and if that citizen has religiously obeyed the native laws of the country and those set down in every heart and conscience since 1st October, 1960.

Our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand 10 percent; those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers or VIPs at least, the tribalists, the nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international circles, those that have corrupted our society and put the Nigerian political calendar back by their words and deeds.

Like good soldiers we are not promising anything miraculous or spectacular. But what we do promise every law abiding citizen is freedom from fear and all forms of oppression, freedom from general inefficiency and freedom to live and strive in every field of human endeavour, both nationally and internationally. We promise that you will no more be ashamed to say that you are a Nigerian.

I leave you with a message of good wishes and ask for your support at all times, so that our land, watered by the Niger and Benue, between the sandy wastes and gulf of guinea, washed in salt by the mighty Atlantic, shall not detract Nigeria from gaining sway in any great aspect of international endeavour. My dear countrymen, this is the end of this speech.

I wish you all good luck and I hope you will cooperate to the fullest in this job which we have set for ourselves of establishing a prosperous nation and achieving solidarity.
http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/01/15/how-nzeogwus-1966-coup-changed-nigeria-forever/

Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of Abia state, on Tuesday earned himself criticism from Ifedayo Olarinde, Cool FM on air personality (OAP) better known as Freeze. Reacting to a photograph of Ikpeazu, giving an elderly lady a thousand naira note, which went viral on social media, the OAP said Ayo Fayose, Ikpeazu’s counterpart in Ekiti state, would have done better. Freeze said the money was too small and would hardly make an impact in the “poor woman’s life”. “Hmm, firstly, how is this going to affect her life over the course of the next one week, one month, and one year?” he asked on Instagram. “Secondly, how much is that again in dollars? Thirdly, why take a picture giving away 1k? And fourthly, are Nigerians ever going to see the big picture? “Some people give out millions every day in school fees, for surgical procedures and don’t get their ‘pictures’ in the media. “For instance, Gov. Ayo Fayose, would have at least come down from that vehicle, help the woman to cut her fish or peel her oranges. “And then give her some money, instead of giving just 1k from the comfort of his SUV and the protection of his guards. “I am not impressed; Nigeria needs more, Nigeria deserves better. We voted you In Sir.” Follow us on twitter @thecableng

Read more at: https://www.thecable.ng/.VpUQf35bDTc.twitter

1. Dey would have asked 4 directions
instead of following the star.

2. They would have presented gifts such as
pampers, powder, feeding bottle, napkins,
Akamu, cerelac and so on.

3. After leaving one would have told d
other ''did u see Mary's shoes, they dont match
her dress''.

4. One would av also said ''I heard Joseph is not working, he's just an ordinary capenter. how can they survive?''

5.Another would av said ''imagine the kind of
dirty enviroment she deliverd, are they not perceiving de bad odour from de sheep & Goats?''

6. Another would av also said ''the
baby doesn't even resemble Joseph, was she really a virgin?''
.
7. One would have replied ''Virgin indeed, I knew Mary during SECONDARY SCHOOL
days nah.What are u telling me.

8. Another would have been eyeing Joseph.

9. One go de form queen Elizabeth saying "how
can I enter dis dirty place"?...
CHEI! ..... Gals and dia Amebo. # LOLZ. HURRAY!!!!!!


SEASON GREETINGS TO YOU ALL!

NOVEMBER 15th, marked the ninth anniversary of the passing of Rear Admiral Muhammed Alabi Lawal, naval officer, former Ogun state military administrator and first democratically elected indigene of Ilorin as civilian governor of Kwara state. To commemorate the anniversary, a prayer session held in his residence in Ilorin, while his political associates used the opportunity to recall his contributions to Kwara’s development. I was unable to attend ceremonies to commemorate his death.
Muhammed Lawal

Muhammed Lawal

I had a very difficult relationship with Governor Muhammed Lawal. There was really nothing personal between us, but by proxy, we became enstranged, as a result of issues and individuals within his administration. Those directly concerned did everything to set Muhammed Lawal against me, and I must openly declare today, that it was testimony to his character, that he did not go as far as they wanted, in the manner that I decided to end my tenure as General Manager of the Kwara State Television Service.

I met Governor Lawal alone in his office inside the Government House, Ilorin, on May 7TH, 2002, to submit a letter of resignation; we then spent the next one hour and a half hours discussing all the issues that were crafted as political allegations against me as well as my honest view of his performance as governor that he insisted that I offered.

“You’re a journalist and Political Scientist”, he had reminded me, “please tell me the truth”! I resumed as Editor of DAILY TRUST the following week, and in February, 2003, I met Governor Muhammed Lawal again, in Ilorin, this time at the behest of General Ibrahim Babangida, who insisted on the meeting, so we can settle whatever differences we had. That meeting held before the 2003 elections and the backdrop was the deep political division, which had developed in the Ilorin Emirate, and the feeling that Governor Muhammed Lawal had designs against the Emir of Ilorin and the Emirate structure. Dr. Olushola Saraki postured as defender of our community’s values; therefore, a tactical alliance was built against Governor Muhammed Lawal.

Exploited feelings

The late Olushola Saraki exploited our feelings and manipulated emotions about our historical values to open access for his son, Bukola, to seize the reigns of power and unfortunately, we couldn’t foresee that we were embarking on a journey to perdition. The Saraki hegemony has turned out to be the worst plague that our community has ever or can ever suffer! But that is a different issue to interrogate at another point in time.

After Governor Muhammed Lawal’s defeat in the 2003 elections, I won’t get to meet the man again, until April 2004, in Sokoto and later on in Abuja. That last meeting in Abuja held for a very long time and we discussed in some detail, many of the issues that haunted his administration and led to his alienation from the community.

I left Muhammed Lawal that day, a bit more sympathetic towards him, even when I was still caught up in the sweep of the emotions of the events, which led to his defeat at the elections. Not long after our last meeting, his mother died in Ilorin. I went to greet him but did not meet him, I however left a very long note. We were not destined to meet again, till he died in 2006. I wrote an obituary which some of his supporters were not happy about. And when I attended a wedding ceremony in his mosque a year or so after, a member of his family even attempted to assault me as we filed out of the mosque!

It was indicative of the deep emotions that the late Governor Muhammed Lawal continued to stir in our community. But I think nine years after his death, and with the experience of the Saraki hegemony in Kwara since 2003, there has come a newer understanding of the Governor Muhammed Lawal’s years in our state as well as a greater appreciation of the man himself.

The late Governor Muhammed Lawal belonged to that generation of Ilorin elite born during the 1940s; they were the first set that really had university education and therefore were the link between the older generation and the much younger. They helped the community to finally appreciate the importance of tertiary education.

That generation was also unique, because many of them were outstanding students and Muhammed Lawal was also one of the best of his generation. They went into professions and would be outstanding in their various fields. Muhammed Lawal studied engineering at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, before joining the Nigerian Navy, where he rose to become an admiral. When he retired, it came as no surprise that he would join politics; and it was also remarkable that he became civilian governor at a point when the Ilorin community had reached a consensus, that one of its children should become governor, for the first time since the creation of Kwara state in 1967.

Lawal years

Muhammed Lawal took to the job like a duck to water and made tremendous effort at rehabilitating many projects that had decayed over the decades of military dictatorship. He went on a roads rehabilitation and construction spree; health centres were rehabilitated; a new presidential lodge was constructed and Muhammed Lawal renovated Kwara Hotel and government quarters all over the GRA were given a facelift. Above all, he consciously chose to empower local contractors and so a lot of money circulated within the economy of the state.

Remarkably, Muhammed Lawal did not choose to sell off state assets as Bukola Saraki was eventually to do when he became governor and he didn’t prioritise non-Kwara contractors as Bukola Saraki was to do, in a conscious effort to impoverish the community, as a weapon of control. And because Muhammed Lawal was a bonafide son of our community, he readily showed respect for our culture and our people.

Whether at wedding ceremonies or funeral prayers, Muhammed Lawal knew the values that our people valorised. On the contrary, when Bukola Saraki became governor, his arrogance became the talk of the community. He looked down at people, including the elders of our community, and carried on as if he was doing a favour being governor of Kwara state.

Second term politics

Unfortunately, the politics of Second Term in power distracted Governor Muhammed Lawal. Unbeknownst to all, late Olushola Saraki had decided that his son, who was alien to the community, was ready to become governor. He postured as defender of the values of the community at a time that Muhammed Lawal was increasingly becoming profiled as antagonistic to the Emir of Ilorin and the structures of value of the community. It was a battle that he could not win, since the Saraki family had entered the ruling PDP; federal might was called upon, after then Vice President, Atiku Abubakar had imposed Bukola Saraki as PDP’s governorship candidate, despite protestations of original members of the party in the state.

Muhammed Lawal was defeated in the 2003 elections, and people in our community and state rejoiced. What we could not foresee in 2003, was that we were about to enter into the worst possible period in our history.

The Saraki hegemony was finally instituted and the control of Kwara’s finances since 2003, led to the entrenchment of Bukola Saraki’s personality cult. He defeated his father and sister in the 2011 elections and installed as governor a long-term loyalist, AbdulFatai Ahmed. With that action, the most unique political project was foisted on Kwara state, which has no parallel in Nigeria-genuinely ruling a state by proxy!

There is no gainsaying the fact that the twelve years since 2003, has been the worst in the history of Kwara state. The steady impoverishment of our people has gone side-by-side with the jaw-dropping enrichment of Bukola Saraki and the coterie of political hangers on around him. Today teachers, local government staff and workers in parastatals are owed salaries.

The huge sums that Kwara took from the Federation Account along with the massive loans taken in our name over the past twelve years, cannot be seen in meaningful developments genuinely touching the lives of our people. Governance in Kwara since 2003 resembles an elaborate project of deceit and patent fraud. It is like entering a “One Chance Taxi”, and in the name of Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP), Kwara state has been systematically fleeced while its resources resembles a lady that fell into the hands of serial rapists. This is the lie that governance has desperately continued to attempt to hide since 2003 and it’s the reason that Kwara state lies prostrate. Our people are in acute despair because governance is a fraud, which does not touch their lives positively.

Given the pains they have gone through since 2003 with the institution of the Saraki hegemony and the enthronement of Bukola Saraki’s personality cult, it is no wonder that people are reappraising the Muhammed Lawal legacy in Ilorin in particular and Kwara state in general. There were many things that people disagreed with during his administration; they included the employment of thugs and cultists who visited violence on the community. His commissioner son-in-law also alienated people. They were also unable to tolerate his disrespect of the emirate structure and they expressed their displeasure through the ballot box.

Fond memories

However, in the years since he left power, and following his tragic death, we now know better, who was really a genuine lover of our community and its ethos. Muhammed Lawal worked devotedly as governor and he never attempted to alienate the properties of government, nor sold them to cronies. He did not take loans in the name of Kwara, nor use the loans to build shopping complexes, diagnostic centre or aviation college; he did not appropriate hundreds of millions of naira for a so-called Zimbabwe farm, then turn around to say those projects do not belong to our state, but to a so-called “Private Sector”. That was the governance gimmick introduced to Kwara state by Bukola Saraki.

Muhammed Lawal was a genuine patriot who loved our community and worked for its genuine development and the empowerment of our people. He did not manipulate the House of Assembly to approve for himself an immoral pension package and did not treat Kwara as a private estate. That came after he left power and the state became the hegemony of a single family and eventually the wallet of an individual. This is the background today, why the late Governor Muhammed Lawal is now fondly remembered in Kwara state. May Allah forgive Governor Muhammed Lawal and grant him Aljanna. Amin.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/remembering-governor-muhammed-lawal/

End time

A mild drama reportedly played out in Orlu, Imo State during the weekend, as a certain pastor believed to be the founder of Holiness of Heaven Ministries, was paraded stark-naked, alongside his accomplice, an alleged ‘juju’ priest.

Reports claim the pastor, until his ugly ordeal, was ‘very powerful’ and performed numerous miracles, ranging from prophesying to healing of the sick.

However, an unnamed woman who according to reports is the pastor’s new wife had allegedly raised the alarm of his fetish association with a very dangerous native doctor within the community.

As the story goes, some irate village youth mobilized and raided the pastor’s church and personal chambers.

It was alleged that a lot of fetish items were discovered.

This consequently led to the burning down of the church and the shrine of the juju priest before the alleged ritualists were paraded around town naked.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/12/14/pastor-juju-priest-paraded-naked-in-imo/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter



End time Pastor

PUZZLE: Did Yahaya Bello, Kogi governor-elect, start primary school at the age of 9?

he glasses are still clinking to celebrate his unexpected election as the governor of Kogi state, but Yahaya Bello is yet to answer a curious question arising from his CV. According to the biography in his campaign document while he was seeking the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the businessman-turned-politician was born on June 18, 1975. That will make him the youngest governor in town when he is sworn in on January 27, 2016 to begin a four-year term. So far, so good. Then the biography states: “He started his early education in 1984 in LGEA Primary School, Agassa in Okene LGA.” Pause. If he was born in June 1975, he would normally start his primary education in 1981 – as most of his age mates did. Pupils started primary school at five or six in the post-colonial era. But the biography says he started his primary school in 1984 – which means he was at least three years behind schedule. By starting in 1984, he was nine years old, and would have been in class with his younger sibling had the parents not decided to make Yahaya the last born in a family of six.

He should finish primary school in 1990 then – at the age of 15. But instead he entered secondary school in 1989 at the age of 14, probably skipping primary six as it was not uncommon. Indeed, these days, children hardly attend primary six. But he would have been in JSS1 with his younger ones still – the average age of entrance into JSS1 those days was 11. These days it is 10 or nine, depending on how anxious parents are to celebrate their “genius” children. Now, let us step it up. The biography says: “His quest for qualitative education saw him changing schools five times until he finally settled for Government Secondary School, Suleja-Niger State, where he sat for his JSSCE. He came out with flying colours. He continued in the same school for his secondary education and wrote his SSCE Exams in 1994.” Writing SSCE at the age of 19 should not be considered impossible, although the most common age is 16. Since he was already three years behind when he started primary school (so says his biography), he would always be in class with his juniors. But there is a little problem: JSS is three years and SSS is three years, and that should mathematically total six years in secondary school. But he wrote his SSCE in 1994 after entering secondary school in 1989 according to his campaign document, so he actually spent five years in secondary school. Double promotion? Maybe. But the 6-3-3-4 education system does not provide any room for double promotion, certainly not in the secondary school. But never say never.

Solving the puzzle How do we solve this puzzle? The best way is to hear from the horse’s mouth. It could be a typographic error, apologies to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), or the work of an overzealous biographer who prepared a document full of superlatives such as: “The greatness in him started manifesting early in his life when he was made the class prefect from class two. The position he held till he was made the school Head Boy in class six due to the leadership qualities identified in him by his peers and teachers.” All efforts to speak with Bello failed. TheCable requested answers to just two questions: “Did you start primary school at 9? Can you name some of your classmates in primary school?” ‎On December 5, TheCable was at his residence in Okene, Kogi state. One Abdulmalik, who said he is Bello’s chief security officer (CSO), promised to set up an interview with the governor-elect‎. However, the interview never happened as he defaulted on several occasions. TheCable also sent messages on the issue to the phone of Bello, but ‎he did not respond or acknowledge receipt. Why lie? For Bello to have started primary school in 1984, a probability is that he was actually born in 1978 or 1979. People normally reduce their age in order to gain some undue advantage – so why would he inflate his? It is statutory for a candidate seeking elective office to tender his particulars to the electoral commission, which will then display them at its office. But TheCable observed that Bello’s particulars were not displayed at the INEC headquarters in Kogi state. To be eligible to contest for governorship, the law requires that the candidate must be at least 35 years old. Section 177 of the 1999 constitution says: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if (b) he has attained the age of thirty-five years.” If he was born in 1978, he would be 37, so he would still be eligible to contest. He did not have to increase his age to qualify. That is the puzzle. Someone increased his age before. In 1999, Salisu Buhari, the first speaker of the house of representatives in the fourth republic, was caught tampering with his date of birth. Although he was born on Janaury 3, 1970 – which meant he was not qualified to contest for the house of representatives because he was below 30 – he claimed to have been born in 1963. Whereas he left Kings College, Lagos, in 1986 at 16, he claimed in his CV that he was 23 at the time. He was eventually forced to resign as it also emerged that he did not possess a degree from the University of Toronto, Canada, as he had claimed. Having lied under oath – he submitted the documents with sworn affidavit to the electoral commission – he came under intense pressure from his colleagues and had to resign and quit the national assembly. He was tried for perjury and forgery and given a mighty slap on the wrist – N2,000 fine to be specific. While Bello is still savouring his victory, satisfactory answers to the puzzle could make the celebration sweeter. Follow us on twitter @thecableng

Read more at: https://www.thecable.ng/.Vmf-X2pzjs4.twitter

The National University Commission (NUC) has approved the license of registration for a new private university in Nigeria.

The Attahiru Bafarawa University of Ifa Technology (TABUIT), Abuja.

Vice Chancellor - Attahiru Bafarawa, Professor of Ifa Studies.

Chancellor - Col Sambo Dasuki,

Registrar - High Chief Raymond Dokpesi

Admission forms for sandwich programs now on sale:

Available courses:

1. SPIRIT 101 - Spiritual Technology for election purposes

2. BOKO 103 - Boko Haram funds management

3. Documentary 105 - AIT Media and publicity management.

4. Ifa 107 - Technology of Separation of Spirits from Yams.

5. Ifa 201 - Advance Ifa, Bokaye, Miyagun Mallamai and Yan bori research & adaptations.

Enroll fee - FREE!!!!

TABUIT - Your One Stop Shop For All Spiritual Matters!

Dazzol

“Jesus Is Not Coming Back”, Says Roman Catholic Leaders

A Spokesperson for the Vatican (Roman Catholic) has officially announced that the second coming of Jesus, the only son of the God, may not happen now after all, but urged followers to still continue with their faith, regardless of the news.

ardinal Giorgio Salvadore told WWN that this years 1,981st anniversary is to be the Vatican’s last in regards to waiting for the Lord to return to Earth.

“We just feel Jesus is not coming back by the looks of it.” he said.

“It’s been ages like. He’s probably flat out doing other really good things for people somewhere else.”

Nearly two thousand years ago, Jesus promised his disciples that he would come again in chapter John 14:1-3 of the bible:


“There are many homes up where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with Me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly”

The Vatican defended Jesus’ broken promise, claiming “he was probably drinking wine” at the time when he made the comments.

“Having the ability to turn water into wine had its ups and its downs.” added Cardinal Salvadore.

“We all make promises we can’t keep when we’re drunk. Jesus was no different.” The church said it will now focus attentions on rebuilding its reputation around the world, but will keep an optimistic mind for the savior’s second coming.

http://nigeriana.org/475833.html

BREAKING!: Javier Mascherano Sentenced To 12 Months In Prison For Tax Fraud In Spain

Barcelona defender, Javier Mascherano has been sentenced to 12 months of jail term after pleading guilty in tax fraud case. He was also fined €815,000. The former Liverpool player was charged with two counts of tax frauds, €600,000 in 2011 and more than €968,000 in 2012.

Fortunately for the 31-year-old, he will not serve the sentence because the case is a non-violent one. Normally, Spanish courts generally do not ask the accused to serve the sentence if the case is non-violent and the jail-time needed to be served is less than two years but he will face the jail if he commits the offence again in the next 1 year.


http://nigeriana.org/476067.html

#NoToSocialMediaBill

This is a copy of the badly drafted anti-free speech bill sponsored by Na'Allah & Saraki via Dino

Christians and Muslims are more alike than different. Please read that which I have discovered. ~~ Robin

Christians and Muslims are more alike than different. Please read that which I have discovered. ~~ Robin

1. Jesus taught that there is only One God and Only God should be worshipped as taught in Deut 6:4, Mark 12:29. Muslims also believe this as taught in the Qur’an verse 4:171.

2. Jesus didn’t eat pork as taught in Leviticus 11:7 , and neither do Muslims as taught in the Qur’an verse 6:145.

3. Jesus greeted with the words “as salaamu alaikum” (Peace be with you) in John 20:21. Muslims also greet each other this way.

4. Jesus always said “God Willing” (inshallah), Muslims say this too before doing anything as taught in the Qur’an verses 18:23-24.

5. Jesus washed his face, hands, and feet before praying. The Muslims do the same.

6. Jesus and other prophets of the Bible prayed with their head to the ground (see Matthew26:39). Muslims do too as taught in the Qur’an verse 3:43.

7. Jesus had a beard and wore a throbe. It is Sunnah for Muslim men to do the same.

8. Jesus followed the law and believed in all the prophets, (see Matthew 5:17). Muslims do too as taught in the Qur’an verses 3:84, and 2:285.

9. Jesus’ mother Maryam dressed modestly by fully covering her body and wearing a headscarf (hijab) as found in 1 Timothy 2:9, Genesis 24:64-65, and Corinthians 11:6. Muslim women modestly dress the same as taught in the Qur’an verse 33:59.

10. Jesus and other prophets of the Bible fasted up to 40 days (see Exodus 34:28, Daniel 10:2-6. 1Kings 19:8, and Matthew 4:1-Muslims do so also during the month of Ramadan. Muslims are required to fast the full obligatory 30 days (see Qur’an 2:183), and others take it a step further by fasting an additional 6 days to increase their rewards.

11. Jesus taught to say “Peace to this house” when entering it (see Luke 10:5), and to also greet the people in the house with “peace be unto you”. Muslims do exactly what Jesus did and taught. When we enter our homes and the homes of others we say “Bismillah” and also greet with “as salaamu alaikum” (peace be upon you) as taught in the Qur’an verse 24:61.

12. Jesus was circumcised. Circumcision is 1 of the 5 fitrah in Islam, so Muslim men are required to be circumcised. According to the Bible in Luke 2:21, Jesus was eight days old when he was circumcised. In the Torah, Allah/God stated to the Prophet Abraham that it is an “Everlasting covenant” (see Genesis 17:13). In the Qur’an verse 16:123 Muslims are required to follow the religion of Abraham. The Prophet Muhammad said, “The Prophet Abraham circumcised himself when he was eighty years old.”

13. Jesus spoke aramaic and called God”Elah”, which is pronounced the same as “Allah”. Aramaic is an ancient, Biblical language. It is one of the Semitic languages that also include Hebrew, Arabic, Ethiopic and the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian language of Akkadian.
The Aramaic”Elah” and the Arabic “Allah” are the same.

The Aramaic “Elah” is derived from the Arabic “Allah”, and it means “GOD”. “Allah” in Arabic also means”GOD”, the Supreme GOD Almighty. You can easily see the similarity in their pronunciation so this concludes that the God of Jesus is also the God of the Muslims, of all mankind, and all that exist. (ze shared)

HAPPENING NOW!!! Biafra Agitation: Mass Exodus of Northerners From Onitsha, Asaba (See Photos)

A source at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has linked former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State and a once convicted top member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, with receiving N100 million each from the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (ret.).


The EFCC source told SaharaReporters that the largess to the two PDP officials was diverted from funds meant for the purchase of arms in order to better equip the Nigerian military in its campaign against Islamist terror group, Boko Haram.

Instead, the N200 million paid to the two PDP stalwarts was designed to ensure the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who lost the presidential election held on March 28, 2015.

A panel appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari is currently investigating the reported theft of more than $2 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the name of purchasing arms. Mr. Dasuki, who was arrested yesterday, initially claimed he stole no funds, adding that Mr. Jonathan approved all his expenses related to arms deals. However, his position changed soon as he was confronted with the statement written by his former director of finance, Shuaibu Salisu who had squealed on all those involved in the scam to investigators.

Nigerian law enforcement agents have so far arrested twenty one persons in relation to the arms purchase scandal. Those under detention or arrest include former senior staff of the office of the National Security Adviser, a former state governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, and the owner of African Independent Television (AIT) network, Raymond Dokpesi. All the arrested suspected are being interrogated in connection with money laundering.

Yesterday, the former NSA, Mr. Dasuki, joined the other suspects at the offices of the EFCC. Agents of the Department of State Services (DSS) handed Mr. Dasuki over to EFCC operatives who have begun questioning him on how he allegedly diverted funds meant for arms purchase into Mr. Jonathan’s re-election campaign.

An EFCC investigator told SaharaReporters that some of the detained suspects were now providing useful information after almost all of them initially exhibited resistance.

AIT proprietor, Mr. Dokpesi, has openly asserted that he received funds from the NSA to run publicity for the Jonathan and PDP campaigns. An official of the EFCC told SaharaReporters that it was “unbelievable for the NSA [National Security Adviser] to be the person allocating money for political campaigns.”

Mr. Bafarawa, whose detention was approved by a court order, has stated that he received N4.6 billion from Mr. Dasuki for “spiritual purposes.” Our EFCC source said their agents were still questioning the former governor to explain what was meant by “spiritual purposes.”

Our source revealed that Mr. Odili and Mr. George “may soon be invited to explain why they received N100 million each from funds budgeted for arms purchase.”

Those still in EFCC detention as at last night are as follows: Shuaibu Salisu, Abba MT Usman, Sagir Attahiru, Evegny Kundaev, Aminu Baba Kusa, Salisu Usman Garu, Bashir Yuguda, Attahiru Bafarawa. Mr. Dokpesi was released last night after meeting bail conditions.

The case of Bode George is instructive, at a thanksgiving service held by him after his release from prison in 2011 in Lagos a Lagos priest delivering a sermon entitled, ‘A minister and a witness,’ Venerable Tayo Aduloju had this to say according to Punch newspaper: “If you are involved in any shady deal; if you are found anywhere elections are rigged; and partake in any form of manipulation, it means you have not learnt anything from your experience. Real power belongs to God. It does not belong to PDP. It does not belong to any president.

“As from today, you are expected to represent Christ. You are an ambassador of Christ. Never again will the name of God be soiled through you.”

Aduloju also charged politicians to shun thuggery, rigging and avarice so as to return the country on the path of decency.

He said, “Shun thuggery. Shun violence. Shun greed. Shun rigging and whatever that can cause trouble.”

Mr. George later denounced this priest at a press conference.
http://saharareporters.com/2015/12/03/bode-george-former-governor-odili-got-n100m-each-national-security-adviser-arms-purchase

Bossforeva:
The Governor has been under controversy lately for owing Ogun State Workers, Now do you think the Holiness Preacher will cause a change of attitude in him?
http://starttells.com/2015/11/29/ogun-state-governor-ogbeni-rauf-aregbesola-listening-to-pastor-w-f-kumuyis-preaching/

@ Op, how can Osun state Governor be owing Ogun state workers, seems you are on dry weed?

Photo-Speak! President @MBuhari has hit the ground flying

Breaking News on #KogiDecides

By Michael Effiong

Those plotting to benefit from the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate in last Saturday’s Kogi State Gubernatorial elections are spreading dangerous rumours about APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The talebearers are looking for an opportunity to shoot down the possibility of Hon. James Abiodun Faleke becoming the substantive Governor if INEC decides to conclude the Kogi elections that was declared inconclusive. Faleke is believed to enjoy the backing of Tinubu

When the rumour began to make the rounds yesterday, some took it hook, line and sinker, others dismissed it without a thought- and their gut feeling has been confirmed with the news that the story linking Tinubu to the death of Prince Abubakar was a baseless lie.

The man who was quoted as making the statement, Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has now denied the said story which emanated from a Facebook posting, describing it as untrue, mischievous and malicious.

Governor Okorocha speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo wrote: the attention of the Imo state Governor and the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has been drawn to a social media (Facebook) report with the caption “Tinubu, others, kill Kogi Guber candidate – Okorocha, written by one Olutoyosi Omotoso.
“In the basically untrue report, the author claimed that the Imo Governor had accused the former Governor of Lagos state and one of the key pillars of the APC in the country, Senator Bola Tinubu and others he didn’t mention, of being responsible for the death of the APC governorship candidate in Kogi state, Prince Abubakar Audu.
“The report came up Sunday (November 22, 2016) evening and of course, few hours after the news of the death of the Kogi Prince was still in doubt by most Nigerians”.

Onwuemeodo continued “in the report, the author however failed or refused to mention or tell his audience whether Governor Okorocha had made that claim at a press conference or in a press release, but unfortunately and unintelligently said that the Imo Governor spoke on phone to say that. And the follow-up question would immediately be; on what ground would the Imo Governor call the author on phone to tell her who killed Prince Audu and who didn’t kill him.
“The truth of the matter is that, the report was totally false, even on the face value. It cannot pass any logic to be believed. It was written in bad faith.
“Even at that, the language of the story could not be Okorocha’s for those who know him and for those who have been following his speeches. He does not talk like an immature speaker. For instance the writer quoted the Governor to have said “we are not unaware of their antics and plans to field Audu’s Deputy, Mr. Abiodun Faleke, after the programmed death of his boss.”
“Governor Okorocha does not drag his sentences or speak disjointed grammar. The mischief is very obvious, for all men and women of goodwill to see in the story.”
The Governor’s aide argued further that, “again, on the day (Sunday) Prince Audu was reported to have died, Governor Okorocha was presiding over the meeting of the South-East Governors’, Ohaneze leaders, traditional rulers and National Assembly members at Enugu state Government House, over the issues of pro-Biafra protests and agitations.
“Governor OKorocha is not quarrelling with Senator Tinubu. The envisaged rift between the duo only exist in the imaginations of those who have chosen the path of dishonour, because only dishonourable people could have authored such an inglorious write-up. Decent people do not do such”.

It is not the first time that the mythic rumours would be woven around the name of Asiwaju Tinubu, fondly called the Jagaban. In his own condolence message, Tinubu had stated: “There is no more shocking and sorrowful news than the sudden death fo Prince Abubakar Audu. he died before his time. I am greatly saddened.

The man who is at the centre of the Kogi storm, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke was born on December 25, 1959 and is a native of Ekinrin Adde, in Ijumu local government area of Kogi State.

He had his Secondary education at Abdulazeez Atta Memorial College, from where he proceeded to Kaduna Polytechnic for his HND in Purchasing & Supply. He graduated in 1986, winning the Best Student Award.

He did his mandatory National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) in Lagos in 1986/87 at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Igbobi. He also holds an MBA in Management from Imo State University.

Before moving up the political ladder to become a Member of the Federal House of Representatives (representing Ikeja Federal Constituency 2), he was the Chairman of Ojodu LCDA, in Ikeja, Lagos-and now may just be the new Governor of Kogi State

http://thebossnewspapers.com/kogi-politics-why-rumour-mongers-are-after-tinubu/

Prince Abubakar was dead and gone to the grave..................hmmmn,haaaaa, gone to the grave

PDP jubilating and started to rejoice ............hnnnnnnnnnnn, haaaaaaaaa, started to rejoice


APC was sad and Abubakar Audu came back to life............hnm, haaa, came back to life

Justice Abdulkadir Abdulkafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has rejected Senate President Bukola Saraki’s application for an order of interim injunction stopping his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The judge refused Saraki’s prayer after listening to his lawyer, Raphael Oluyede.

The Nation sighted yesterday a certified true copy (CTC) of the Monday ruling.

Instead, the judge ordered Saraki to serve the respondents.

He directed them to appear before the court tomorrow to show cause why the reliefs sought by the applicant should not be granted.

Saraki’s fresh application for interim injunction was filed with a new fundamental rights’ enforcement suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 6, the day Justice Ibrahim Buba (of the Lagos division) threw out a similar brought by him.

Justice Buba said his court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case. He added that it should have been filed in Abuja where the cause of action took place. The judge noted that Saraki could not prove that his rights were about to be violated in Lagos.

“He has to proffer reasons for the court to hold that his right is about to be violated in Lagos State. The key word is ‘state’,” the judge said.

This suit is the third of such filed at the Federal High Court by Saraki.

Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, before who the first of such suits was filed, withdrew from the case on September 30 and returned the case file to the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

Saraki sought to restrain the CCT, the Federal Ministry of Justice and others from proceeding with his trial on the alleged false assets declaration charge against him at the CCT.

Justice Mohammed declined on September 17 to grant Saraki’s prayer for an order restraining the respondents.

The Senate president had applied for the order via an ex-parte motion.

The judge ordered that the respondents be put on notice and show cause on September 21, why Saraki’s prayers should not be granted.

On September 21, the judge, after arguments from parties, elected to hear the substantive suit.

When parties returned to court on September 30, Justice Mohammed withdrew from the case, following publications in the social media, which portrayed him as being compromised.

He said the publication cast doubt in his integrity as a judge hearing the case.

Justice Mohammed said it was more honourable for him to hand the case file to the chief judge for reassignment.

To avert a possible misrepresentation of the proceedings, the judge directed an official of the court to make the record of the proceedings available.

It is, however, not clear why Saraki filed the fresh suit since the Supreme Court on November 12, directed the CCT to suspend proceedings in his trial pending the determination of his appeal.

The apex court asked the CCT to “tarry awhile” and await its decision in Saraki’s appeal.

The directive by a five-man panel, led by Justice John Fabiyi, followed an undertaking by the respondents’ lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), to prevail on the CCT not to proceed with the trial since the Supreme Court will hear Saraki’s appeal speedily.
http://thenationonlineng.net/court-rejects-sarakis-fresh-application-against-cct/

Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to restore the integrity of Nigeria.

Ogbulafor made the observation in an interview with NAN in Abuja on Tuesday while x-raying the performance of Buhari’s administration.

He said he was confident in the way the president selected those he would worked with, because “you know his is a very meticulous man.

“I have absolute confidence that Buhari will restore the integrity of this nation once more. After all, he did it when he was Head of State and he is going to do it again.

“I believe now that he has selected his cabinet and assigned portfolio to them, the challenge has begun. The time is now and the place is here,” Ogbulafor said.

He stressed the need for Nigerians to give Buhari and his cabinet, necessary time to offer their best to the country.

“We need to give his cabinet time to master their offices and assignments, and go through the files and take off. That is what I think.”

Ogbulafor also expressed confidence that Buhari’s administration would succeed in the anti-graft campaign, given the pedigree of his cabinet members.

He urged the president to continue to remain sincere, because “you cannot be a public servant and come out and be the same.

“You can imagine what happened to me; some people wrote petitions against me on what I don’t know anything about. I went to court and proved my innocence.


“I believe now that Buhari has selected his cabinet, if they are accused of corruption, he should now deal with them by setting example.

Ogbulafor, however, advised the new cabinet members to “know where Buhari is coming from, where he is going and work with him” for the administration to be able to eliminate corruption.

“I will also advise Nigerians to be patient, comply and pray for the leaders to do the right things,” Ogbulafor added.

He said that he was glad that the country was now stabilising after Buhari assumed office.

Ogbulafor advised the administration to address the dilapidated roads in the country, especially in the eastern part.

“Port Harcourt-Enugu road is bad, Eket-Umuahia road is bad, Enugu-Onitsha road is bad, Onitsha Bridge is bad, and Enugu-Benue road is bad.

“I am glad Buhari gave works to Fashola. Let us see if he can do things the other way and address those areas that were not given attention before.”

Ogbulafor said one term would be too short to rebuild the country but expressed the hope that Buhari “can do a lot to make a different.”

He added that it was also too early for anybody to start talking about Buhari’s second tenure, saying “If the party decides that he should go a second term, that is the party’s decisions.”

On the National Assembly, he commended Buhari for not interfering in the impasse.

“If it were to be during our time, we would have moved sacks of money to bribe national assembly to do what we want.

“Party interference, presidential interference, but today we are doing things the way they want and is working for them.”

He also acknowledge that power supply was now getting fairly and steady , even in the remote parts of the country, under Buhari than what it used to be before.

“Petrol supply has also improved, just that these dealers and importers of petrol are not cooperating because they don’t want to go by the price fixed for petroleum.

The present agitation of Biafra is a display of stupidity.Let me go by the fact and figures to backup the above statement.

In 2003 presidential election in Nigeria, the true founder of Biafra, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu contested for the Nigerian presidential poll ,He has total votes of 1,297,445 which it is 3.2% of total votes casted while OBJ and GMB had 24,456,140 and 12,710,022 respectively.

Ojukwu was defeated with wide margin by OBJ in both southeast and south south in 2003. In 2007 presidential election, Ojukwu had a bitter experience from both southeast and south south like a deserter.

2007, Late Umaru Yar' Adua has total votes of 24,638,063, GMB had total votes of 6,605,299 while the legend founder of Biafra, late Ojukwu was only had total votes of 155,947 which it is 0.44% of total casted votes in Nigeria.

Both Southeast and south south voted late Umaru Yar'Adua massively at the expense of late Ojukwu.Ojukwu was defeated so unquestionable by Yar'Adua in SE and SS.

The votes, affection and support given to Jonathan by the easterners in 2015 presidential election was never given to Ojukwu the Biafra founder in the two times he contested for the presidential poll.

If truly Ojukwu haven't swallowed the dream of Biafra, why he contested to be the president of republic of Nigeria in 2003 and 2007?

His wife Bianca after his death was made the Nigerian Ambassador to Spain.
His son, Mr Emeka Ojukwu, also contested in the 2015 Federal House of Representatives election in Nigeria.

These same set of Biafran agitators were the same people saying No Jonathan No Nigeria till 2019 but when Jonathan was defeated the motto is now : Biafra or i die.

Today they are claiming to be the truly descendent of Ojukwu but where were those Biafran agitators when Ojukwu was lagging behind with just one hundred fifty-five, nine hundred and forty-seven votes in 2007 and defeated in his own state ?

The major reason for this Biafran agitation is the defeat of Jonathan nothing else.

On May 13, 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill into law. Both chambers of the national assembly had passed the bill to modernise our criminal justice system. In particular, the law has abolished stay of proceedings and interlocutory appeals by merging all preliminary objections with the substantive case in any criminal case instituted in a federal court in the country.

The revolutionary intervention of the law was occasioned by the unending trial of politically exposed persons in corruption cases. In fact, the last straw that broke the carmel’s back was the case of Mohammed Abacha v FRN (Federal Republic of Nigeria) which had been stalled for 12 years on account of the preliminary objections raised and argued from the high court to the apex court by the defence counsel, Mr. J. B. Daudu SAN. At the end of the Isralite’s journey the Supreme Court ordered that the trial be commenced de novo at the federal capital territory high court.

Having been completely frustrated in the circumstance, the federal government was compelled to discontinue Mr. Abacha’s corruption charge of N664 billion under the pretext that the case would be “amicably” resolved!

Before then, the Lagos State government had been forced to abolish stay of proceedings in criminal trials following the prosecution of Major Hamza Al Mustapha over the murder of Mrs Kudirat Abiola. The trial had lasted 13 years on account of several preliminary objections and interlocutory appeals which were pursued from the High Court to the Supreme Court.

Contrary to the misleading view of many senior lawyers that the abolition of stay of proceedings in criminal trials is illegal it has been judicially decided that statutes which oust the jurisdiction of courts to stay proceedings are constitutionally valid. In FRN v Nwude (2006) 2 EFCCLR 149 at 161 it was held by Oyewole J. (as he then was) that section 40 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Act, 2004 which abolished stay of proceedings is not an infraction of the powers of the court.

According to his lordship’s inherent powers of the court only come into play in the absence of express statutory provisions and the court then fills in thr gap by invoking its inherent powers to do justice in a given case….the intention of the legislature in this instance is to remove impediments in the way of the administration of justice.” Similarly, in Ajiboye v FRN (2013) 17 WRN 127 at 145 the Court of Appeal (per Ogbuniya JCA) struck out the application for stay of proceedings on the ground that it was incompetent “in the face of the sacrosanct prescription of section 40 of the Act which clearly ousted the jurisdiction of the court over it.”

It is trite law that jurisdiction oxygenates all proceedings in our courts. Accordingly, the exercise of judicial powers by any court without jurisdiction is bound to end in a nullity, regardless of the industry invested in it. With the enactment of the AJCA, the suspension of criminal cases by all accused persons has been effectively stopped in Nigeria.

Therefore, any judge who orders a stay f proceedings in any criminal trial does so illegally and is liable to be sanctioned by the National Judicial Council. It is unfathomable that the Supreme Court decided to return the country to the status quo ante in a rather brazen and bizarre manner. In view of the ouster clause contained in section 306 of the AJCA, the Code of Conduct Tribunal ought not to have delivered its ruling in respect of the preliminary objections filed by Dr. Saraki. The ruling should have been read together with the judgment after the conclusion of the trial.

It was the premature ruling of the Tribunal which led to the filing of an interlocutory appeal in the matter. Instead of declining jurisdiction to entertain the interlocutory appeal which has been abolished by the AJCA, the Court of Appeal ordered a suspension of the trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal to await its decision. Although the Court of Appeal eventually dismissed the appeal the trial of the substantive case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal has been further halted by the Supreme Court which has granted another stay of proceedings pending the hearing of the interlocutory appeal filed before it by the accused person.

However, it is sad to note that in granting the order of stay of proceedings in the case the apex court ignored the provisions of sections 306 and 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 . It was not a case of oversight or lack of knowledge of the existence of the AJCA on the part of the Court but a deliberate judicial decision to turn back the hand of the clock in the ongoing battle against corruption and impunity in the land. Curiously, some senior lawyers have endorsed the blatant violation of the law in the matter. I am disturbed that a progressive lawyer like Emeka Ngige SAN was reported to have justified the illegality of the order of stay of proceedings.

No doubt, the prosecution and the defence counsel who are Senior Advocates of Nigeria cannot be exonerated in the mockery of the criminal justice system. By arguing preliminary objections which have been merged with the substantive case the senior counsel involved in the diversionary legal rigmarole overlooked the relevant provisions of the AJCA. Similarly, the members of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the Justices of the Appeal Court did not advert their minds to the combined effect of sections 306 and 396 of the AJCA. In any case, one had expected the learned Justices of the Supreme Court to correct the litany of legal errors committed at the lower courts. But the errors were endorsed as the apex court decided to halt the trial without any legal justification whatsoever.

The counsel to the federal government, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs SAN was even boxed to a corner by the Court to the extent that he had to undertake not to proceed with the trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal pending the determination of the interlocutory appeal!

As a creation of the law the Supreme Court is bound by the law. So are the Justices of the Court. In Joseph Amashoma v The State (2011) 14 NWLR (pt 1268) 530, the honourable Justice John Fabiyi held that “The appellant’s counsel should be reminded of the doctrine of Separation of Powers as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

The Legislature is to enact law while it is the duty of the Judiciary to interpret the law as enacted….There is no escape route.” In the instant case, there was no escape route. Yet, the Supreme Court discountenanced the tenet of separation of powers by the deliberate refusal to limit itself to the interpretation of the relevant provisions of the AJCA. As the inherent powers of a Court cannot be invoked to supersede the extant provisions of a valid and subsisting legislation the Supreme Court ought to be challenged to justify the purported annulment of the clear and unambiguous provisions of the AJCA.

With profound respect to the revered members of the panel of the Court the order of stay of proceedings granted by them last week flies in the face of section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which provides that “An application for stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before the court shall not be entertained.” Indeed, ex abundanti cautela, section 396 thereof further provides that all preliminary objections “shall be considered along with the substantive issues and a ruling shall thereon be made at the time of the delivery of judgment.” Apart from abolishing stay of proceedings the AJCA has effectively banned interlocutory appeals in criminal trials.

Therefore, the controversial ruling of the Supreme Court should not be allowed to stand because of its far-reaching implications and negative impact on the administration of criminal justice in the country. Since the ruling is binding on all other courts in line with the hallowed principle of stare decisis the Supreme Court should take advantage of the substantive appeal in the Saraki’s case to review its position with a view to confirming the abolition of stay of proceedings by section 306 of the AJCA. This clarification should be made, as soon as possible, in line with the letter and spirit of the AJCA.

Otherwise, every accused person will continue to file interlocutory appeals and proceed to ask for stay of proceedings pending the determination of such appeals. The application will have to be granted as the hands of either the trial court or the Court of Appeal would have been tied by the erroneous decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Saraki v FRN.

The apex court is advised to distance itself from the antics of the influential agents of impunity in the legal profession who have resolved to frustrate the trial of corruption cases by filing cumbrous motions and frivolous preliminary objections designed to shield members of the ruling class from prosecution. Our judges should realise that the inglorious era of engaging in dilatory tactics in criminal trials by defence counsel has been consigned to the dustbin of history.

Femi Falana is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria
http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/11/16/illegality-of-stay-of-proceedings-in-fg-vs-saraki-femi-falana/

For the records.... GEOPOLITICAL DISTRIBUTION of MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS

SOUTH EAST:
1. Foreign Affairs,
2. Commerce & Industry,
3. Science & Technology,
4. Labour & Productivity,
5. Education (state)

SOUTH SOUTH:
1. Transport,
2. Niger Delta,
3. Budget & Planning,
4. Petroleum (state),
5. Health (state),
6. Agriculture (state)

SOUTH WEST:
1. Power, Works, Housing
2. Finance,
3. Health,
4. Solid Minerals,
5. Communication,
6. Niger Delta (state),

NORTH CENTRAL:
1. Agriculture,
2. Youths & Sports,
3. Information,
4. Environment (state),
5. Labour & Employment (state),
6. Solid Minerals (state)

NORTH EAST:
1. Education,
2. FCT,
3. Environment,
4. Women Affairs
5. Power (state),
6. Foreign Affairs (state),

NORTH WEST:
1. Defence,
2. Justice,
3. Interior,
4. Water Resources,
5. Aviation (state)
6. Budget & National Planning (state),
7. Investment & Industry (state)

I hope all regions are represented as against the notion that some part of the zone where marginalize?

When Odimegwu Ojukwu was buried, he was wrapped with the Nigerian flag. Nothing like Biafra flag and the families never mentioned Bia not to talk of fra on that day. So, one wonders what this few misinformed ones are saying. Or will they say they could be more Biafra than the close families of the instigator?

Think twice and move forward

President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon is a Nigerian of the ethnic Igbo stock, adopted by a former leader of the country during the Biafran war.

This startling revelation is about to be revealed as a court in western France Thursday allowed a family member of Ali Bongo Ondimba to view the birth certificate of the leader after accusations that he lied about where he was born.

With next year’s presidential elections approaching, controversy has been brewing over Ali Bongo’s place of birth with critics saying he falsified his birth certificate to hide the fact that he was adopted from another country.

If the allegations prove true, it could keep him from running for another term and cost him his wealth.

The court in Nantes allowed 25-year-old Onaida Maisha Bongo Ondimba, a daughter of former president Omar Bongo, to view the documents in full.

Her lawyer Eric Moutet hailed the decision as “enormous”, though “diplomatically complex”.

Ali Bongo is the only one of ex-president Omar Bongo’s 54 declared heirs not to have produced the identification documents.

Ali Bongo assumed the presidency following the 2009 death of his father Omar Bongo, who had presided over the west African nation and its oil and mineral wealth since 1967.

The Gabonese constitution says one must be born Gabonese to serve as the head of state, but French investigative journalist Pierre Pean alleged in a recent book that the president was actually Nigerian and was adopted during the Biafran war in the late 1960s.

Bongo himself claims he was born in Brazzaville in 1959, former capital of French Equatorial Africa.

The Nantes civil registration centre is responsible for all birth certificates of people born in French Equatorial Africa up to 1960, when the former colonial countries in the region gained independence to become Gabon, Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic.

Ali Bongo announced in late August that he would give “all his share of the inheritance” from his father to “the Gabonese youth” in a speech marking the 55th anniversary of independence.
http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/11/13/revealed-gabonese-president-is-an-igboman/